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Hello!
We are three months into 2024, and time is seemingly moving faster than I often feel like I can keep up with. Sometimes, amid the busyness of life, we are confronted with moments that cause us to pause and appreciate all of the goodness that's happening around us.
Just the other morning, I stopped at Starbucks to grab a cup of tea after dropping my son off at daycare. As I approached the register to order, I realized that the team member was a former TPP student, Riley. As she lifted her head, she greeted me as students typically do outside of TPP, "What are you doing here," as if I don't have an existence outside of The Pittsburgh Project. We both laughed a bit at the initial exchange, and then as I was waiting for my drink, she came over and said, “Mr. Rick, I'm glad you came through today because I don't know what I want to major in for college and what I want to do with the rest of my life and I need you and Ms. Natasha to pray for me, and once you hear from God I need you to tell me what to do.” And while the theology of that request might give some of the theologians among us a little anxiety, at the heart of it, Riley is at a crossroads in her life, and it brought joy to my heart to know that at that crossroads she knew that she always had the folks at TPP to turn to. We have and will continue to pray for Riley that God will give her direction and Natasha will connect with her and process some of those hard life decisions that all young adults are faced with.
It was a gift to me to see Riley that morning at Starbucks; it forced me to slow down and be reminded that the work is never done. When you focus on building relationships as we do at The Pittsburgh Project, a program ending does not reflect the end of a relationship. The young people we have invested in over the years will still look to us as a resource. I am grateful that we get to live life with young people as they grow, learn, and become young adults. I am grateful that families entrust their young people to our care from the time that they enter school until they graduate from high school. And I am grateful for every person that chooses to support our work in so many different ways.
As I think about Riley and so many other young people we have connected with over the years, I am reminded of the hope and anticipation that comes with the spring season and the Easter holiday. This season serves as a powerful reminder of the potential for renewal and transformation in our own lives and communities. It is a time to reflect on the blessings we have received and to look forward with optimism to the opportunities that lie ahead for The Pittsburgh Project and so many young people like Riley.
I want to thank each and every one of you for your continued support of The Pittsburgh Project. Your generosity and commitment make our work possible, and we are grateful for the difference you are helping us make in the lives of others by sharing hope, empowering youth, and building community.
May this Easter season be a time of joy, reflection, and renewal for you and your loved ones.
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